276 WOOD AND GARDEN 



who show a cheerful readiness to receive a fresh range 

 of ideas, and a willing alacrity in doing their best to 

 work them out. Such a servant as this warms his 

 master's heart, and it would do him good to hear, as I 

 have many times heard, the terms in which the master 

 speaks of him. For just as the educated man feels 

 contempt for the vulgar pretension that goes with any ex- 

 hibition of ignorant vanity, so the evidence of the higher 

 qualities commands his respect and warm appreciation. 

 Among the gardeners I have known, five such men 

 come vividly to my recollection — good men all, with a 

 true love of flowers, and its reflection of happiness 

 written on their kindly faces. 



But then, on the other hand, frequent causes of 

 irritation arise between master and man from the 

 master's ignorance and unreasonable demands. For 

 much as the love of gardening has grown of late, 

 there are many owners who have no knowledge of 

 it whatever. I have more than once had visitors who 

 complained of their gardeners, as I thought quite 

 unreasonably, on their own showing. For it is not 

 enough to secure the services of a thoroughly able 

 man, and to pay good wages, and to provide every sort 

 of appliance, if there is no reasonable knowledge of 

 what it is right and just to expect. I have known a 

 lady, after paying a round of visits in great houses, 

 complain of her gardener. She had seen at one place 

 remarkably fine forced strawberries, at another some 

 phenomenal frame Violets, and at a third immense 



